Portable window platform



June 29, 1937. c. J. BURDA 2,085,572

PORTABLE WINDOW PLATFORM Filed June 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 29, 1937. Q BURDA I PORTABLE WINDOW PLATFORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1936 Charla? Jfiwrda Patented June 29, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE WINDOW PLATFORM Charles J. Burda, Cicero, Ill.

Application June 8, 1936, Serial No. 84,025

14 Claims.

This invention relates to portable platforms for use in washing windows, painting or glazing windows, or other work of that kind. Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction .and arrangement whereby a platform of this kind is provided, having a substantial horizontal area, a when the structure is unfolded and placed in po- -sition;;on the window-sill, outside the window, andwhereb'y the folding structure also provides in effect a vertical wall at the outer end of the platform, whereby a roomy and comfortable and practically safe enclosure is in effect provided, from within which the worker may wash the window, or may do other work, and whereby the entire structure may then be folded into a com- ,paratively small and compact bundle for storage or shipment, or while it is being carried from one window to another.

' l t is also an object to provide certain details and .features' of construction and combinations tending toincrease the general efficiency and -the-desirabi1ity of a portablewindow platform of this particular construction.

'To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig; 1 is a perspective of a portable window platform embodying the'principles of the invention, showing the same in position on the outer 1 window-sill of a window.

1 Fig. 2 is aperspective of. the structure when folded for storage or transportation, or while being carried from one window to another.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the construction of said platform. iscFig. .4 is a side elevation of the said platform .1 structure, showing the window in vertical section. Fig.35, is a detail sectional' and perspective View of certain. portions of the said structure.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of certain Lportions of the structure.

.Fig..'7-is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a different form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the strncturein Fig. '7 folded into a substantially flat and compact bundle.

Referringto Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the invention comprises a pair of horizontal and parallel side barsl, connected together by crossed parallel motion bars 2, and by the telescoping or extensible cross bar 3, which latter is shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In this way, the side bars I can be moved apart a distance suitable for windows of different widths. The inner pivotally connected ends of the bars 2 are connected by springs 4 with buttons or hooks or other separable fasteners 5 on the window-sill.

An outer vertical wall, in effect, is provided by the two vertical side bars 6, which have their lower ends hinged at I to the outer ends of the bars I, and these bars 6 are connected together by the crossed parallel motion bars 8, and by the horizontal extension bar 9, which latter has a set-screw it for making the two sections of the bar rigid when the structure has been adjusted to suit the width of the window. The lower ends of the bars 8, it will beseen, are connected by springs I I with the outer ends of the lattice work formed by the bars 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings.

The window frame is-provided at each side with an eye I2 to receive the snap hooks I3 provided on the inner ends of the cords or flexible con-. nections I l and I4, which latter have their outer endssecured respectively to the vertical bars 6 and the sidebars I, as shown more clearly'in Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will also be seen, in connection with this separable. attachment of the structure to the window frame, that the inner ends of the bars I have up-turned portions I5 for engagement with holes inthe bracket pieces l6, that are fastened to the window-sill, in any suitable or desired manner. The short sections of angle iron H are secured to theunder sides of the bars I, 'to engage the outer edge of the window-sill, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and in this way the structure is separably connected to the window frame and the window-sill, and is supported strongly and steadily for use in washing the window, or in performing any other work thereon. The structure practically provides a roomy enclosure, which is comfortable and safe for the worker, when in use, but which can be disconnected from the window and folded into compact form, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in order that the structure may be stored or shipped, or maybe carried from one window to another.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the structure is similar to that previously described, but in this case the horizontal side bars I8 are connected together by pivoted links I9, which latter have their meeting ends pivoted on the parallel bars 29, which latter are parallel with the outer side bars I8, in the manner shown in the drawings.1 (Also, in this form of the invention, the vertical side bars 2I are similarly connected together by pivotally connected links 22,

which latter have their meeting ends pivoted on vertical and parallel bars 23, and in this form of the invention the two vertical bars 2i are connected by the horizontal extension bar 24, which latter may be similar to the bar 9 previously described. Otherwise, the construction is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the structure in Fig. '7 is adapted to be folded into compact form, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, when the device is not in use.

In each form of the invention, the vertical and horizontal side bars may be connected by folding braces 25, if desired, which serve to hold the vertical side bars in vertical position.

Therefore, in either form of the invention, the folding structure can be unfolded to provide a horizontal platform, in effect, with a vertical wall at its outer end, and with cords and braces forming the sides of the enclosure, so that the latter may be practically as wide as the window, and may be roomy and comfortable for the worker. The latter may stand directly on the lattice work formed by the various bars, or, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, a board may be laid on the horizontal portion of the folding structure, to support the feet of the worker, or for other purposes. The structure is easily disconnected from the window structure, by unhooking the snap hooks l3 and by tipping the bars I or H! at their upper ends, in a manner to disconnect the inner ends of these bars from the apertured brackets on the window-sill, in a manner that will be readily understood.

Obviously, the structure shown and described can be made of any suitable or desired materials, metals of suitable character, but preferably the structure will be made of aluminum, so that it will be light to carry around.

It will be seen that the platform of this invention is absolutely safe in use, as persons can stand or walk thereon without any danger of falling off, and buckets and other things can be placed out on the platform and there is no way for them to fall off. Another advantage of this invention is that the platform does not fall below the window sill, and that it can be put out in from eight to ten minutes, which is a valuable time-saving feature of the invention.

Of course, the adjustable means 9 and Ill, on the outer upright wall, serve in conjunction with the brackets IE to rigidly maintain any desired width for the structure, any width within the limits to which it is adjustable. These brackets [6, of course, will be placed on the window sill in accordance with the width of any particular window, either wider apart for a relatively wide Window, or nearer together for a relatively narrow window. The connections M are foldable with the structure, after being detached from the upright portions of the window frame, and thus there are provisions whereby the window platform structure is operative and usable'in connection with windows of different widths, with a firm platform for each width, and with a safe and effective outer wall for each width.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a portable window platform, means extensible laterally to in effect provide a horizontal flat platform in accordance with the widths of different windows, and means forming in effect a laterally extensible flat outer wall, for the outer end of the platform, foldably connected at its lower end to the outer end of the platform, the structure thus provided being foldable together and contractible laterally, by folding the wall down flatwise upon the platform, when not in use, and being operative in a plurality of laterally adjusted widths thereof, for windows of different Widths.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, comprising upper and lower detachable connections on the window structure, for maintaining said folding structure in operative position outside the window, adapted to be folded with the structure.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said means providing the platform and outer wall comprising horizontal and vertical side bars, hinged together at the outer ends of the bottom side bars, with means forming a folding lattice work connection between the lower side bars, and a similar connection between the upright side bars.

4. A structure as specified in. claim 1, comprising adjustable means for rigidly maintaining the desired width of the folding structure, after the latter has been. extended laterally to the desired width.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said means providing the horizontal platform and the outer upright wall comprising side bars with parallel motion connecting elements between them, which elements are oblique to the side bars when the structure is in use.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, comprising adjustable means on said outer wall for rigidly maintaining the desired width of the folding structure, after the latter has been extended laterally to the desired width.

'7. In a portable window platform, means extensible laterally to provide a horizontal platform in accordance with the width of the window, and means forming in effect a laterally extensible outer wall, for the outer end of the platform, foldably connected at its lower end to the outer end of the platform, the structure thus provided being foldable fiatwise together and contractible laterally, when not in use, comprising adjustable means for maintaining the desired width of the folding structure, after the latter has been extended laterally to the desired width.

8. In a portable window platform comprising parallel bars adapted to extend outwardly and horizontally from the window sill, means for detachably engaging the inner ends of said bars with the building, upright bars having their lower ends hinged to the outer ends of said first mentioned bars, a grill work of pivoted elements connected between said first mentioned bars, forming a platform, a grill work of pivoted elements between said upright bars, forming an upstanding end wall for the outer end of the platform, whereby the latter and its end wall are laterally adjustable to different widths, for windows of different widths, and means for supporting the structure in operative position, in any adjusted width thereof, said end wall being foldable flatwise upon said platform, in any adjusted width thereof.

9. A structure as specified in claim 8, said horizontal bars having upturned inner ends, and said detachable engaging means comprising bracket plates fastened to the window sill and formed with openings for said upturned ends.

10. A structure as specified in claim 8, said horizontal bars having upturned inner ends, and said detachable engaging means comprising bracket plates fastened to the window sill and formed with openings for said upturned ends, together with means on the under side of said horizontal bars to engage the outer edge of the Window sill.

11..A structure as specified in claim 8, having an endwise adjustable cross bar under said plat-- ing folding braces between the upright bars and the horizontal bars.

14. A structure as specified in claim 8, comprising an adjustable cross bar for said end wall,

between the upper and lower ends of the latter. 5

CHARLES J. BURDA. 

